Changes in your body during menopause

A woman is said to have "reached menopause" when she hasn't had a
menstrual period for at least 12 months in a row, but the time leading
up to menopause may last many years.

Menopause is either natural or induced. Natural
menopause is part of the normal aging process and occurs when the
ovaries have stopped releasing eggs
each month. Induced menopause occurs when the ovaries are surgically
removed, or when they stop working because of damage due to
chemotherapy or radiation. After menopause, a woman can no longer
become pregnant by having sexual intercourse.

The main factors behind the changes in your body are the hormones
estrogen and
progesterone. During the years
leading up to menopause, your body gradually produces less of these
hormones, which were important during your childbearing years. Their
levels fluctuate more than they normally do, and your periods become
irregular. This time in a woman's life, which generally starts around
age 45, is called perimenopause. It usually lasts for 5 years, but may last as
long as 8 years or as little as 2 years.

The average woman reaches menopause at the age of 51. The number of
women reaching menopause is on the rise: by the year 2026, it's
estimated that there will be 7.9 million Canadian women over the age
of 50.